In the wake of another hard-fought victory for Rangers against Motherwell, manager Michael Beale finds himself faced with an ever-growing list of problems. The Ibrox faithful may have celebrated another three points, but the club’s injury concerns are beginning to take their toll on the team’s performance.
Rabbi Matondo had sustained a knee injury during the match, receiving treatment before attempting to continue playing, only to be eventually replaced. Reflecting on Matondo’s condition at the end of the match, Beale expressed his apprehension about the severity of the injury, stating, “Rabbi today, we think that might be a bad one. He’s taken a blow on the outside of his knee. I need to see it back, but when I came in, that’s the information I was given.”
Tom Lawrence was notably absent from the match against Motherwell as well. He had previously been forced to leave the field during the midweek Europa League clash with Real Betis, and Beale revealed that he was dealing with an “issue” following the victory over the La Liga outfit. Providing an update on Lawrence’s return timeline prior to the game, Beale remarked, “Unfortunately, Tom Lawrence has an issue. We probably won’t see him for the next two or three games. He felt good when he came off the pitch; he thought it was just cramp. But he had a reaction the next day.”
Matondo and Lawrence are the latest additions to a growing list of key players sidelined for Rangers due to injuries. Kieran Dowell has spent weeks on the sidelines, and he’s been joined by Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin. Furthermore, Danilo is also unavailable after suffering a severe injury despite his recent goal-scoring heroics against St. Johnstone.
As the injury crisis deepens for Rangers, Beale and the coaching staff face a formidable challenge in maintaining the team’s competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions. The depth of the squad and the ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances will be crucial in the coming weeks as they strive to navigate these challenging times.